Seyssel (Haute-Savoie)

Seyssel is a commune in the French department of Haute- Savoie department in the Rhône-Alpes region. It is the capital of the canton of Seyssel in the Arrondissement Saint-Julien -en- Genevois.

Geography

Seyssel is located at 265 m above sea level. M., about 24 km west of the town of Annecy (air line). The market town stretches along the eastern shore of the Rhone River opposite of Seyssel in the department of Ain, in the broad valley floor between the Grand Colombier in the west and the Montagne des Princes in the East, the Genevois.

The area of ​​16.86 km ² municipal area includes a portion of the western Genevois. The western boundary runs along the Rhône, which flows here in a wide Talniederung from north to south and narrows sharply in the range of Seyssel. Both below and above Seyssel the Rhône jammed ( Barrage de Seyssel ). To the north of the borough leads the Usses in the Rhône. From the course of the river Rhône, respectively Usses of the communal land extends east across a wide Talniederung and the adjacent slopes down to the predominantly forested crest of the Montagne des Princes, on the 937 m above sea level. M. the highest elevation reached by Seyssel. Through the deeply Klus of Fier this mountain is separated from the southern continuation of the Montagne du Gros Foug. The Fier and his gorge form the southern boundary of the municipality.

To Seyssel addition to the actual center also includes several hamlets settlements and farmsteads, including:

• Chavagny (300 m above sea level. M. ) above the confluence of the Rhône and Usses
• Cologny (400 m above sea level. M. ) on the southeast side of the valley of the Usses
• Vallod (440 m above sea level. M. ) on the lower northern slopes of the Montagne des Princes
• Curty (500 m above sea level. M. ) on the lower northern slopes of the Montagne des Princes
• Pologny (360 m above sea level. M. ) on the eastern flank of the Rhône
• Les Cotes (430 m above sea level. M. ) on a terrace on the western slopes of the Montagne des Princes
• Prairod (460 m above sea level. M. ) on the western slope of the Montagne des Princes
• Vens (350 m above sea level. M. ) on a ridge between the Rhône and the Fier

Neighboring communities of Seyssel are Bassy and Desingy in the north, Droisy and Val -de- Fier in the east, the south and Motz Seyssel and Corbonod in the West.

History

The territory of Seyssel was already inhabited during the Roman period. Near the hamlet Vens there was the Gallo-Roman estate Condate. From this period, numerous wall foundations and the traces of a Roman road have been preserved.

For the first time the village is mentioned in 1096 under the name Saisel. Later, the names Saysel ( 1155 ), Saysellum ( 1273), Saxaillo ( 1282), Sayssel ( 1293 ) appeared, and by 1345 the spelling is handed Seyssel.

In Seyssel a priory was founded in the 11th century. In the 13th century it received certain liberties and developed into a major port and trading center on the Rhône. With the construction of the first bridge at that time Seyssel became a regionally important market town. The division of Seyssel was sealed in 1760 by a treaty between France and Savoy. The smaller, located west of the Rhone part remained with France, while the eastern part came to Savoy.

Attractions

Dating back to the 17th century church was restored and rebuilt in the 19th century. On the suspension bridge built in 1838, connecting the two Seyssel, the monumental statue of Notre- Dame-du -Rhône. In 1987, a new bridge over the Rhône, south of Seyssel opened. As other attractions the Chapelle des Roches, the Château de Vens from the 18th century and the Musée du Bois are worth mentioning.

Population

With 2315 inhabitants (as of 1 January 2011) Seyssel one of the smaller towns in the Haute-Savoie region. Since the early 1960s, several variations of the population that always moved in the range 1500-1800 persons were recorded.

Economy and infrastructure

Seyssel has long been an embossed by agriculture and the retail community. In the vicinity of Seyssel there are larger wine regions. In the valley of the Rhone, a commercial zone with various companies, including the construction and transport industries developed in the last decades. Many workers are also commuters who engage in the larger towns in the vicinity of their work.

The village region has a quite well developed. It lies on the road from Saint -Julien -en- Genevois to Belley. Other regional road links exist with Bellegarde- sur -Valserine, Rumilly and Aix -les- Bains. The nearest links to the A40 motorway is located at a distance of around 15 km. The station on the railway line Geneva -Lyon is located on the western Rhôneseite.